Method and apparatus for using a cellular network to facilitate access by a mobile device to a local wireless access point

A method, comprising:

• using a processor and a memory for:
• obtaining, at a cellular communication network of a cellular service provider, service information of the cellular service provider, wherein the service information of the cellular service provider comprises information associated with at least one service agreement of the cellular service provider, wherein the information associated with at least one service agreement of the cellular service provider comprises information associated with a service agreement between a user of a mobile device and a proprietor of a local wireless access point;
• receiving, from the mobile device via the cellular communication network based on detection of the local wireless access point by the mobile device, information associated with the local wireless access point;
• and
• determining, based on the information associated with the local wireless access point and based on the information associated with the service agreement between the user of the mobile device and the proprietor of the local wireless access point, whether the mobile device is authorized to access the local wireless access point.

A mobile device, comprising:

• a processor and a memory communicatively connected to the processor, the processor configured to:
• propagate, from the mobile device toward a network element of a cellular communication network of a cellular service provider, information associated with a local wireless access point detected by the mobile device, wherein the information associated with the local wireless access point is propagated via the cellular communication network of the cellular service provider, wherein the network element of the cellular communication network is configured to obtain service information of the cellular service provider, the service information of the cellular service provider comprising information associated with at least one service agreement of the cellular service provider, wherein the information associated with at least one service agreement of the cellular service provider comprises information associated with a service agreement between a user of the mobile device and a proprietor of the detected local wireless access point;
• and
• receive, at the mobile device from the network element via the cellular communication network, an indication as to whether the mobile device is authorized to access the detected local wireless access point, the indication as to whether the mobile device is authorized to access the detected local wireless access point being determined based on the information associated with the local wireless access point and based on the information associated with the service agreement between the user of the mobile device and the proprietor of the detected local wireless access point.

A method, comprising:

• using a processor and a memory for:
• propagating, from a mobile device toward a network element of a cellular communication network of a cellular service provider, information associated with a local wireless access point detected by the mobile device, wherein the information associated with the local wireless access point is propagated via the cellular communication network of the cellular service provider, wherein the network element of the cellular communication network is configured to obtain service information of the cellular service provider, the service information of the cellular service provider comprising information associated with at least one service agreement of the cellular service provider, wherein the information associated with at least one service agreement of the cellular service provider comprises information associated with a service agreement between a user of the mobile device and a proprietor of the detected local wireless access point;
• and
• receiving, at the mobile device from the network element via the cellular communication network, an indication as to whether the mobile device is authorized to access the detected local wireless access point, the indication as to whether the mobile device is authorized to access the detected local wireless access point being determined based on the information associated with the local wireless access point and based on the information associated with the service agreement between the user of the mobile device and the proprietor of the detected local wireless access point.